Praise, Anxiety, & Other Symptoms of Grace
by Joey Horstman
(review written: August 2, 2001 by Kevin D. Hendricks)
Nonfiction (collected essays)
151 pages
Chalice Press
2000

I have to start by admitting that Joey Horstman was my college professor. You may think I owe him something, but that's not the case. I graduated and my diploma is safely in my hands. Besides, he hasn't been returning my e-mails.

Praise, Anxiety, & Other Symptoms of Grace is a collection of essays, most of which appeared in The Other Side magazine, and one short story. The essays deal with life, raising children and Star Wars, and raise questions of why in search of grace. The essays are loaded with the quotes and references you expect from a college professor, and the Bible and the body of Christ eventually make an appearance as the final voice of reason.

Horstman makes you think and laugh, which is about as good as you can get for an essay. They're also refreshing pieces of cynical Christian thought--not the usual drivel you find in the Christian bookstore. Horstman continually looks back at the Reagan years with distaste, not the usual glee of a Focus on the Family father. That's another thing--Horstman admits his ineptitude at raising children, something all fathers feel deep with their hearts.

He's cynical. He's honest. He's funny. And through these a little grace manages to shine through. There are moments when it really shines, moments where you can tell Horstman spent the time polishing and rewriting like he tells his students to. I know because he read these portions in class like a proud father.

Of course you have to be proud with a line like "Bonk not your brother with the tennis racket, lest you be bonked. Again I say, bonk not."

Unfortunately, Horstman's debut will suffer because it's too liberal and intelligent for conservative customers who like their Max Lucado, and it too quickly and easily turns to God for it to do well at Barnes & Noble or climb very high on the Amazon.com sales rank (and Horstman, like every author, has admitted to shamelessly checking that sales rank). I hope that prediction proves false, but this is the reason most professors at Christian colleges aren't filthy rich.

In closing, I'd like to nominate this book for worst cover of the year. Horstman may have spent time crafting his sentences, but no one spent time on that cover.

Ignore its chart topping unlikelihood and 1980s cover and start a little word of mouth--this one's worth your Sunday afternoon.